Clean Car Campaign

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Vehicle Production

The production of vehicles, from the extraction of raw materials to the manufacture and assembly of a finished car or truck, consumes a tremendous amount of resources and results in significant releases of pollutants that impact our environment. According to one estimate, as much as 30,000 pounds of waste is created from the production of a single vehicle. Obviously, creating a "cleaner car" involves reducing these important impacts from vehicle production.

The Clean Car Standard encourages changes in vehicle design that focus on the use of nontoxic recyclable materials, and best-in-class manufacturing techniques that reduce the use and release of polluting substances. In particular, the standard calls for 1) best-in-class painting/coating practices, 2) the elimination of heavy metals and other substances of concern, and 3) design for recyclability and maximum use of recycled materials. The standard also supports producer responsibility policies for end-of-life vehicles as a means to increase the use of nontoxic recyclable materials and improve the environmental performance of dismantlers and shredders.